DigitalFoodLab’s Post

🍲 Finland could be a leading innovation hub for cellular agriculture and alternative protein development! ✍ Our food system is transforming. Some estimates suggest that the world’s protein needs will double by 2050, and to stay within the planetary boundaries, food production and consumption must radically change. Solutions for making conventional meat production more efficient are almost exhausted, and the next inevitable step is to transition to a planetary plate model and fill most of the plate with alternative proteins. Enifer is a Finnish biotech start-up - Joosu Kuivanen and Henna Paasovaara wrote a blog article about an important issue. Read the article here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dinFYQq5

📣 Check out ECBFs latest blog article about the fascinating technology of #fermentation. #enviromental #technology #vc #impactinvesting #sustainability #sustainableinvestments

A US startup, Savor, is making butter from atmospheric carbon dioxide. This process, devoid of biological elements, uses Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to convert CO2, methane, and coal into hydrocarbons, which are then transformed into fatty acids. These acids, combined with water, emulsifiers, and rosemary oil, create a butter-like product. Savor aims to offer a climate-friendly alternative to traditional dairy butter, potentially revolutionizing agriculture by reducing land use for oil crops and addressing global food shortages with high-calorie synthesized fats. This method can be adapted to minimise the CO2 ratio in the atmosphere, yes it’s not the huge step but can make a small difference 👍

(NEW ZEALAND 23.04.24) Another disrupter comes down the pike. A recent report https://lnkd.in/geqmgsfM explores the potential impact of plant-based and alternative proteins on New Zealand's agriculture. While these technologies hold promise, scaling them up to compete with animal protein requires significant energy and technological advancements. Challenges include the need for large-scale production at low costs, with startup companies facing funding uncertainties. Despite economic setbacks, the underlying science continues to progress, reminiscent of historical disruptions such as the decline of the wool industry. However, transitioning industries may take decades, necessitating strategic government involvement to support research and development efforts. https://lnkd.in/gxtH3ini

Everyone talks about innovation, but here's the real story in the biocontrol industry After countless hours in the lab, you’ve created an agricultural game-changer And now? To ensure end-users take full advantage, you must register this product It sounds promising at first, but here’s the catch: In the EU, it takes 6-7 years to register a biopesticide This timeline is simply unsustainable For small companies, this is a monumental challenge Innovation is stifled This causes investors to hold off on investments It’s not just a regulatory delay; It's a barrier to progress that’s holding back the future of sustainable farming While these long timelines persist, countries like the US & Canada have forged ahead with shorter approval processes of 18-24 months Biopesticides in these markets reach farmers much faster, enabling them to adopt eco-friendly solutions without the painful waiting time And then there’s Brazil—leading by example Brazil’s government has taken bold action, reducing the biopesticide registration timeline to just 12 months The result? An incredible 400% growth in the biopesticide market, demonstrating the power of regulatory reform Agriculture is evolving, but we can’t afford to let outdated processes hold us back The future lies in biological solutions—and with the right changes, we can unlock this potential Innovation is vital But innovation with action? That’s where real progress happens The future of biologicals is already here The question is: will everyone else catch up? #SustainableAgriculture #regulation #biopesticides

The latest results of our successful joint undertaking with the European Commission - the CBE JU. Scaling up innovation in Europe's #biobased industries to get more products to market and enable the green transition.

Everyone talks about innovation, but here's the real story in the biocontrol industry After countless hours in the lab, you’ve created an agricultural game-changer And now? To ensure end-users take full advantage, you must register this product It sounds promising at first, but here’s the catch: In the EU, it takes 6-7 years to register a biopesticide This timeline is simply unsustainable For small companies, this is a monumental challenge Innovation is stifled This causes investors to hold off on investments It’s not just a regulatory delay; It's a barrier to progress that’s holding back the future of sustainable farming While these long timelines persist, countries like the US & Canada have forged ahead with shorter approval processes of 18-24 months Biopesticides in these markets reach farmers much faster, enabling them to adopt eco-friendly solutions without the painful waiting time And then there’s Brazil—leading by example Brazil’s government has taken bold action, reducing the biopesticide registration timeline to just 12 months The result? An incredible 400% growth in the biopesticide market, demonstrating the power of regulatory reform Agriculture is evolving, but we can’t afford to let outdated processes hold us back The future lies in biological solutions—and with the right changes, we can unlock this potential Innovation is vital But innovation with action? That’s where real progress happens The future of biologicals is already here The question is: will everyone else catch up? #SustainableAgriculture #regulation #biopesticides

Save the date PRIMESOFT_Horizon Europe International Workshop on Soft Fruit Crops Dates: 4-5 November 2024 Closed-type workshop (80 participants) #Lemesos, #Cyprus Thematic sessions & confirmed speakers: 1. Priming technologies  (Bernd Mueller, Vasileios Fotopoulos, Salma Balazadeh) 2. Breeding strategies (bruno mezzetti, bertus meijer, Marco Bertolazzi, Graham Clarkson, EVANGELOS TSORMPATSIDIS, Felicidad Fernandez Fernandez) 3. Defining qualitative and phytochemical attributes of berry crops  (Francisco TomasBarberan, Carlos Garcia, Bart Nicolai, Maarten Hertog) 4. Production models and cultivation practices  (David Bryla, Wendy Schotsmans, Marco Butera, Robert Veberic, Nicolas Valanides, Manos Kykrilis) 5. Sustainable solutions towards production of berry crops (Ellen Thompson, Magda Krokida, Georgia Frakolaki, Jasminka Milivojevic, Dr. Sujeeth Neerakkal) 6. Challenges in the soft fruit production sector in different climatic conditions  (Lisa Wasko DeVetter, Itay MAOZ, Vera Theelen, Amparo Monfort, Antonios Petridis, Monia Dall'Ara, Costanza Zavalloni, Ph.D.) 7. Advancing research activities and extension services in berry crops (David Bryla, Lisa Wasko DeVetter) Cyprus University of Technology European Commission European Research Executive Agency (REA) www.prime-soft.eu

Precision fermentation offers a sustainable alternative to traditional agriculture, with potential to address food security and environmental impact concerns. Innovations in feedstock diversity and sustainability, alongside advancements in manufacturing capacity and process design, show promise in making precision fermentation a key component of our future food system, alongside other alternative protein sources. However, from scaling to securing feedstocks, innovators in the space are facing significant operational and technological challenges. Find out about the advances and setbacks the industry is facing in Jack Ellis’ latest perspective: https://hubs.li/Q02vkWpn0 Imagindairy, Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc., Liberation Labs

🇦🇺 Cauldron Ferm raised AUD9.5 million in Series A funding to scale up precision fermentation manufacturing platform The funding will allow the Australian startup to finalise arrangements with partners and plans for a 500,000 L facility. Over the long term, it aims to build a network of "smaller, smarter" precision fermentation facilities operating as a CDMO. Cauldron's technology has shown a 30-50% cost reduction compared to traditional batch fermentation at a 25,000 L capacity. Using a continuous (rather than a batch) fermentation process, Cauldron keeps microbes in a productive state for extended periods. It has successfully run over 8 months of operation without contamination or genetic drift (two key challenges in running long-term fermentation) in a 10,000 L system. This approach reduces both variable and fixed costs and improves output relative to CAPEX. Michele Stansfield ✉️ Hungry for more updates on biotech shaping the future of food? Devour the free subscription: betterbioeconomy.com